Ten years ago, we decided to print a few good articles about house churches in a magazine. Little did any of us know that House2House would become one of many tools which God used to “shake up” the Christian world in such a good way…to bring new life to weary soldiers, and a new relevance for the light of the Kingdom in a dark world.
Since that time, the house church movement has matured, shed much of its old negativism, and become a very legitimate movement in the Body of Christ, affecting it in many ways. It has broadened its reach thru every imaginable strata and division within the Lord’s family…bringing together young and old, traditional and modern, reaching every denomination and theology. Because the seeds of this movement have touched so many, organic expressions of Jesus (small groups of passionate believers) are popping up, literally, in every corner of every place. What is so fascinating about it all is that no central entity is pushing it. There are practitioners from all over the globe, brought together for the simple purpose of sharing in the collective movement…no pet agendas, and no strings attached. House2House is so blessed to have been a part of what the Lord has done, just being that ‘shopping window’ for many folks to come, and browse, and discover. (I hope you had a chance to read the last newsletter about all the things H2H is doing.)
Here’s where I ask you to go with me to a little-know part of this story. You see, today, H2H is changing. We must (and will) become driven, fueled, and empowered by “stakeholders” to continue the mission. How is this so different? You all know the Dale’s well. Tony and Felicity have become the “faces of H2H”. Their teaching and writing ministries have been one of the vehicles used most effectively in communicating the vision of the house church movement; and they will continue to do so, and be so. However, you may not know that since the beginning the Dales have shouldered a lot of responsibility. They have toiled unbelievably, travelled, and poured 10’s of 1000’s of dollars of their own personal money into the H2H ministry: and they have taken nothing out. (I could go on. I hope these few short lines properly illustrate the picture of sacrifice that the Dale’s have made.) Now, I need to speak to the stakeholders at large. (Stakeholders: persons who affect or can be affected by an organization’s actions.) There is a move afoot at H2H (and needs to be more so) for those who have carried the weight for so long to share that load with others, so that weariness does not ensue, so they are able to function within the limited grace given to them by God, and thereby be more effective. That means there are a lot of tasks and responsibilities we all have to take up. (Hey, no one can compel you to do this. It is between you and God. I am only asking at this point.) Writing and submitting articles, telling the stories from the revolution, participating in local events, and posting your church’s location and contact info are ways you can be that stakeholder. Finally, another way to help (I bet you knew this was coming) is to help financially.
This is more than a plea for money. This is a plea for each of us to become one of those that “carry” the ministry. We really need 100 individuals @ $25/month and 50 churches @ $50/month to carry this thing financially. Asking everyone to pitch in is just is right thing to do. It will take this sort of income – continually – to run the ministry properly.
Here’s another thought. House2House is made of two different groups. One group seems to stay around year after year. I see their faces at all the conferences, and touch base with many of them via email occasionally. The other group is brand new. They are all excited about this “new thing” that God is showing them! They want to learn. They come to the conference to buy all the books, take notes, and are anxious to go home and share everything they are learning with others. It is certainly true in this sense, that the older are serving the younger. (I see my personal monthly donation to H2H as serving those that are just discovering what it is to be “lead by the Holy Spirit” in an organic church setting…one of my favorite investments.)
I invite you to join many of us, to take up some stake in H2H, and to make it your own. I ask you to stand with us to help make sure H2H is on secure financial footing. We vow to use the money wisely. You know the standard that we preach; it is the same one that we live … “Don’t waste the money on excessive salaries and buildings, but pour it into real ministry.” Could you take up some small amount of the load so the Dale’s don’t have to shoulder it again?
Not to diminish this aspect of stakeholder-ship, if you have some useful and available gift or talent, or want to serve is some other way. Please drop a line to Paul Byerly.
To donate, please follow this link
In conclusion, I pray for everyone, as the Apostle Paul said, “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”
David Underwood (Stakeholder) for the H2H team
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Recent Stories:
Each week H2H publishes a story/article about simple church and/or living out our life in the Kingdom. Recent stories include:
- Locksmith or fireman: Understanding the primary missionary task By Guy Muse
- The Gifted Teacher By Neil Cole
- Burgers and Jesus by Ross Rohde
- Were Women Silent at Pentecost? by Jon Zens
Over 350 local house church groups listed on our map!
House2House is a donation supported ministry.
Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ
By Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola
Christians have made the gospel about so many things—things other than Christ. Religious concepts, ideas, doctrines, strategies, methods, techniques, programs, and formulas have all eclipsed the beauty, the glory, and the reality of the Lord Jesus Himself. On the whole, the Christian family today is starved for a real experience of the living Christ. We know a lot about our Lord, but we don’t know Him very well. We know a lot about trying to be like Jesus, but very little about living by His indwelling life. “Jesus Manifesto” presents a fresh unveiling of Jesus as not only Savior and Lord, but as so much more. It is a prophetic call to restore the supremacy and sovereignty of Christ in a world—and a church—that has lost sight of Him. Read this book and see your Lord like you’ve never seen Him before.
What’s With Paul & Women?
By Jon Zens
1 Timothy 2:11-12 has been used as a “clear” mandate to silence women in the church for over 1500 years. In What’s With Paul & Women? Jon Zens exposes the fallacies of this interpretation, and opens up the meaning of 1 Timothy 2:9-15 using insights gleaned from the Artemis-saturated Ephesian culture where Timothy was left to stand against false teaching (1:3). Going beyond 1 Timothy 2, this book covers the major issues in gender inequality with three Appendices: one on the Ephesian social world in which 1 Timothy was written, another on 1 Corinthians 14:34-36 and an extensive review of John Piper’s What’s the Difference? Manhood & Womanhood Defined According to the Bible. If 1 Timothy 2:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-36 have puzzled you, What’s With Paul & Women? will help in your quest to discern the mind of the Lord as the gender debate continues.
All Dogs Go To Heaven Don’t They?
by Maurice Smith
In All Dogs Go to Heaven . . . Don’t They? Maurice Smith uses his extensive years of scholarship to tackle a complicated and difficult subject that affects all of us — what happens to people after death. He writes with humor and clarity to make the Biblical position very plain and to refute the theory that everyone will eventually end up in heaven — however attractive a concept that might be. I recommend this book to anyone who is serious about holding a Biblical position on the subject.” – Felicity Dale, author An Army of Ordinary People and co-author The Rabbit and The Elephant.
House2House
PO Box 229
Clayton, WA 99110-0229
House2House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I have to agree that the Dales have put their hearts and souls, and it looks like their finances into this movement. They are extremely hospitable and caring to others, as have they have shown time after time. Without a doubt, they desire to see the kingdom of God come in his people. This attitude should be at the heart of all who seek after the things of the Lord.
However I fear that to some extent what was begun in the Spirit has escalated to this point of trying to move it along in the power of the flesh. Am not sure any individual or group need bankroll a true move of God and I know the Dales would never wanted to make movement about them. I do not doubt sincerety of those making this plea for help. Some of you I have met, including the Dales. You have been extremely helpful in my path out of abusive religion.
However, we measure success much differently than the Lord does. The success of the housechurch movement is not much different than the success of the protestant movement. Don’t think it miraculous that people flee from the constraints of religion to a safer haven. The goal of His kingdom in this earthly realm is for us to grow up together in Him. As you know, many do grow up to some extent while living within denominational structures, but that does not legitimize those structures. And, the housechurch movement should be commended for increasing our understanding of the futility of those man-made structures as well as our dependence upon them for our spiritual growth. But, I seem many parallels between what you are attempting to do and what makes those denominational structures as ineffective as they are. We shouldn’t make the mistake in believing that the methods we are using in building his church are going to work simply because our itententions are better than the last group that tried it.
Please consider this in light of the last couple of years. The housechurch movement is not “Too Big to Fail.” At this crisis point, let’s ponder this. If human effort has not been able to sustain this movement, perhaps it’s time to consider that the Lord might have other intentions for its future. Let’s not call on more human effort to move it forward. We as God’s people have been going around this mountain of building things in our own strength since the reformation. Maybe this is that golden opportunity we’ve been looking for to leave those practices behind in the sand of the wilderness as we move forward into the promised land of His Kingdom.
@Chris Grahl- I hear what you are saying, and have heard the same thing all of my life “When God calls, He provides” or “If it’s God, you don’t have to ask for money”.
Thing is, I can’t find that in the Word. On the contrary, I see more than a few mentions of the need to give. Paul was downright manipulative (by our standards) about the collection for the starving saints in Jerusalem. Was feeding them not something God wanted, since He did not provide the money without a lea for money? I can think of other NT examples of the same thing.
Maybe we could say that if God is in it, pleas for money will be answered. That is still extra-biblical, but at least it does not violate what we see in the Scriptures. Beyond that, it seems that those who are aware of a need have an obligation to make the need known. I wish we all heard from the Holy Spirit enough to just drop a check in the mail to a PO Box, or slip money under the door of a widow or single mom because we felt God nudge us. Sadly most of us are not there.
Just my of the cuff thoughts …
Paul Byerly
Paul,
I’m thinking that we’re on slightly different pages on this, but wouldn’t want to extend this into a public debate. So I’ll just say thanks for your thoughts and hope that you would still prayerfully consider what I’m saying beyond merely the financial aspect.
@Chris – Sorry if I misunderstood you. I assure you the board spends a lot of time seeking God’s will and direction. We always talk about “if” we do a conference next year, and we have discussed the future of H2H in terms of what is should be and if it should be.
My reaction was to what I perceived, wrongly perhaps, as the common suggestion that we can gauge God’s blessing – or lack of blessing – based on finances or how easily finances are raised. I see far to many things that are not of God with a great deal of money, and far to many groups doing what the Bible tells us to do struggling for money to accept money as an indicator that something is or is not called of God.
Blessings,
Paul
Paul,
My hope in commenting was to bring in an outside perspective. In hindsight, I see that some of my thoughts were not worked-out and presented exactly as I had reasoned them out in my mind. I should have been more prayerful in sharing them. Perhaps one day a discussion can evolve where these thoughts can be further explored. However, I probably should not have chosen this venue for that. That said, it might be more helpful for you to remove my comments from this page. It would also give others a chance to comment on the original post instead of my comments. Please forgive my intrusion.
Chris
@Chris – No intrusion perceived. It’d good to know how we are seen, and to understand the other issues that what we say brings up.
If you want to contact me via e-mail, I am paul @ house2house.com